conspiring
Hatching secret plans
Conspiring is plotting secretly with others, typically to do something harmful or illegal: They were conspiring to overthrow the government.
The word carries implications of secrecy and shared intent.
More loosely, circumstances or events can conspire against someone when multiple factors combine unfavorably: Everything seemed to be conspiring against us that day.
Shared criminal involvement
- connivanceWillful blindness to wrongdoing
- collaborationJoint intellectual work
- confederacyAlliance for shared purpose
- cahootsInformal term for conspiracy
concert · league · partnership · cooperation · understanding · accomplice · insider · abetting
Devising a secret plan
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- cabalScheming political faction
- stratagemDeceptive plan for advantage
maneuver · ploy · ruse · gambit · conniving · manipulation · mastermind · orchestrate
Deliberate violation of trust
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- seditionInciting revolt against government
- treasonBetraying one's nation
perfidy · disloyalty · subversion · sabotage · turncoat · double-dealing · sellout · undermining
Concealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
- furtiveSecretive and sly
undercover · hidden · cloak-and-dagger · discreet · veiled · shadowy · hush-hush · backroom
complicity
Shared criminal involvement
- connivanceWillful blindness to wrongdoing
- collaborationJoint intellectual work
- confederacyAlliance for shared purpose
cahoots · concert · league · partnership · cooperation · understanding · accomplice · insider · abetting · accessory
plotting
Devising a secret plan
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- cabalScheming political faction
stratagem · maneuver · ploy · ruse · gambit · conniving · manipulation · mastermind · orchestrate · design
treachery
Deliberate violation of trust
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- seditionInciting revolt against government
treason · perfidy · disloyalty · subversion · sabotage · turncoat · double-dealing · sellout · undermining · duplicity
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
furtive · undercover · hidden · cloak-and-dagger · discreet · veiled · shadowy · hush-hush · backroom · incognito
conspiringdisclosing
Making information known
announcing · publicizing · broadcasting · revealing · acting in good faith
conspiringcooperating
Working jointly toward goals
collaborating · working together · helping · supporting · aiding
conspiracy, conspire, conspirator, conspired, conspirators, conspires, conspirer, co-conspirator, conspirers